We need to turn those friendships into commitments, says PM
A 100 PER CENT exclusive economic zone (EEZ) strategy can provide a regulated and managed ocean buffer between growing coastal populations and the high seas by limiting pollution, controlling fisheries markets, increasing fish-stock, protecting biodiversity, rebuilding ecosystems, and monitoring shipping among other benefits.
This was highlighted by the Prime Minister at the Oceans Management side event at Madrid, Spain, last week.
Mr Bainimarama called on Pacific leaders to lobby and bring together 100 nations by 2025 to agree to an integrated management of their whole EEZ which would be determined by a set of guidelines and targets.
He said Fiji had found great hope in the many friends of the ocean that have shown their support to its cause.
“Now, we need to turn those friendships into commitments that will aggressively protect our vital ocean ecosystem before irreversible damage is done,” he said.
“We’ve come together to build on the momentum of our ocean-focused negotiations and pull together a group of forward-facing nations that are committed to achieving 100 per cent integrated ocean management of our EEZ.
“Fiji has already committed to the 2030 target of 100 per cent sustainable management of our EEZ, with at least 30 per cent to be declared marine protected areas (MPA).
“We stand here today in support of the idea of a coalition that will reshape the world’s EEZs at a time when big, blue ideas have never been needed more.
“We call on all those that are already forward-thinking in their commitment to 30 per cent MPAs by 2030 to join us here because without a holistic policy across all our blue space, we will not be able to fully ensure our MPAs.
“Together, we have the potential to forever turn the tides in the campaign to save our oceans, so let us seize this opportunity before it’s too late.”